Renewals, Cantera Style
By: Isaiah | December 22nd, 2008
In case you weren’t paying attention over the last few days, we’ve had two big contract renewals: Xavi and Sergi Busquets.
Our vice-captain renewed until June 2014 when he’ll be 34. His buyout is a rather hefty €80 million buyout. I imagine that when his contract expires, he’ll move into a technical position with the club. His Wiki page claims he’s earning €7.5million a year, but there’s no source. Over a 52-week year, that’s €144,000 a week, which is quite a haul. Who knows if that part is true, though.
Busquets renewed until 2013, also with an €80 million buyout. That should definitely hold him to the club until just before his 25th birthday. The contract expires on June 30 he turns 25 on July 16. Good to see the kid getting his contract, I’m not sure there was every that much doubt he’d leave. As usual, and as was the case with Xavi, the official site says nothing of their actual salary. I’ll probably never get used to that part of soccer fandom, to be honest.
Congratulations, canteranos, Xavi is Barça for life and Busquets is starting out on the right foot if that’s what he wants to be.
Category: Team News
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Comments
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LOL, sniejder says madrid can still win the league. He is from holland, right? where marijuana is legal, i think the boy had 1 2 many.
Posted from
Germany
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lol cant blame him. I am in with love maryjane
I dunno about fabregas coming to Barcelona. I feel he has been corrupted a bit in England. Even though he makes genius passes, he doesnt always make the right choice and is a bit impatient as well. He has a long way to go before achieving The X-factor’s cool-headedness and omnipotence on the field.
Posted from
Canada -
It doesnt surprise me that Xavi lives at home. one thing we forget is that some of these soccer players have been at a club since they were 13 or youngers, and didnt go to a normal school like we do, so their emotional experiences are different than ours, they mature differently than we do, and probably think about life from a completely different aspect.
We move away because we need independence and see our family all the time. Professional athletes are always on the road, and are very busy with non-stop training and excercise. So they really enjoy their family time.
Plus xavi just seems like someone who enjoys his close friends. watch him during goal celebrations.
Posted from
United States -
Wonder if the Villa rumors mean that they’re thinking they either a) can’t or b) don’t want to renew Eto’o?
Yes, at present they are saying that they want to renew Eto’o, but what else would you say in the heat of a critical season for the side? Or is Villa being looked at as an addition to the horn of plenty? I can’t see him as a replacement for Henry, since he doesn’t do so many of the things that Henry does. And if we want to bring Krkic along, why pay what would be north of 40 million for Villa? Frankly, 35 million for Alves makes a lot more sense, because he makes the offense better and plays strong defense.
I just don’t see where Villa fits in the side. I much prefer the Van Persie-for-Henry rumors, if we’re going to give credence to craziness.
The only problem with Fabregas is the English game. Arsenal play pretty football, but it’s still English, with lots of long balls and meaningless possession. He would be much different with us, but we already have Xavi, and will for a while. Could Fabregas play that Deco kind of role? Maybe, but then where does Iniesta play?
I think that every name that comes up brings more questions than answers.
Posted from
United States -
What is the word for wrist and doll in French? is it something like muneca? because thats it in spanishword and it applies to both. Maybe he is remembering the smell of his little muneca. His daughter
Posted from
United States -
Fabregas seems redundant in our current squad. what does Cesc do that Xavi and/or Iniesta do not? i can’t think of a thing. remember that he can’t even get a place in the starting XI for Spain because of the form and ability of Xavi and Iniesta. if we want him to play roughly the same position, i don’t see why we would pay so much for a player who’s position is totally covered in our squad.
Posted from
United States -
after watching that video i have a bew found respect for xavi. what a humble mofo. i feel a man-crush coming on
Posted from
United States -
If the Villa rumors were started by us then it would probably be so that they can put some pressure on Eto’o to sign for less, like a whole “we have other options” kind of thing.
Who knows how that would play out. But it’s Villa or Eto’o, not both.
Posted from
United States -
@BA-
Good points. However, I would argue that reason he usually didn’t start for Spain is that he and Xavi play the same position and have a hard time co-existing in the Spanish 4-4-2. Iniesta didnt have anything to do with it in that particular squad. Part of what made them so fun to watch is that the two flank midfielders were pretty much wingers on offense. They were lucky enough to have Cazorla, Silva and Iniesta who are some of the few midfielders in the world able to seamlessly transition from conventional mids to wingers on a dime. Cesc cant do that as he is a pure center-mid and there was only one of those spots open and it clearly was Xavi’s. No shame in losing out to him. However, look at the semis and the final when Villa got injured, they switched to what was essentially a 4-1-1-3-1 with Torres at the nine, Senna as bodyguard, Xavi playing his old role as a slightly deeper lying than usual playmaker, and Cesc as a pure attacking midfielder with Iniesta and Silva flanking him. You gotta admit that strategy worked out pretty well for them.I definitely agree he would be redundant on this squad as long as Xavi is around since playing him anywhere else would be a waste of talent and we’re not spending 50 million euros + just to add depth.
Re: Villa
His best moments IMO have come with a second striker accompanying him. For instance, Torres or Morientes. I’m not really sure how he’d do in our 4-3-3. He’s at his best at a 4-4-2 IMO. Valencia sometimes plays a 4-3-3 but with guys like Mata, Joaquin, and Vincente who are pure wingers flanking Villa. Those guys, although good are not nearly as versatile or a goal scoring threat as guys like Henry and Messi so it would be interesting to see how he’d do being accompanied by two guys that can shift positions and score goals like our two hybrids. It would be interesting.
I agree with Kevin though that Van Persie would be a better Henry replacement given the price involved. However, I dont think Villa would be that bad in such a role. He’s played behind strikers before and done well and he occasionally comes in from the wing. He also would add depth like Henry does in that if Eto goes down he can move to the 9 with no problems. I just think Van Persie would be more practical, cost effective, and just a surer thing. Villa would be a risk at that position and a mighty expensive one at that. It might pay off great but that’s a lot of money…
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United States -
Transfer rumors are so much fun but only like 2.5% of them come true. All this speculation and debate an something completely different will most likely end up happening.
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United States -
yeah, what will probably happen is Eto renewing and Henry finishing his contract. and Van Persie is going to get injured after 15 minutes on the pitch, and if the medical team tried to strength him in training, he will break before even playing, the glassy Robben to him is like YAYA to others. besides Iniesta has played most of the time this season on the left flank in Henry role, and he was magnificent so there’s no immediate need to find a replacement to the constantly developing Henry. and I can see Bosquets developing through this second term’s many matches, enough to fill the-so-not-hard-to-do 3rd place in our midfield. and if he doesn’t Iniesta will slot back in it. add to the fact that Marquez can play in the midfield alongside YAYA and Xavi, and after Milito’s comeback we will have 4 CBs, so we hardly need anyone this year. and summer signings Hleb and Keita have to actually play some matches before buying anyone new.
Posted from
United States -
tomatutomate doll is poupée is french and wrist is poignet
Posted from
Switzerland -
*in french
Posted from
Switzerland -
BTW ronaldinho got robbed:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1708/ac-milan/2008/12/24/1026855/ronaldinhos-house-burgled-by-bumbling-thievesPosted from
Switzerland -
That’s not funny at all! That’s fortunate. The guy worked hard for his medals and it would suck a lot if the thieves had taken them.
Anyway, it’s always hard to see something bad happen to Ronaldinho because he has such a great personality.
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United States -
Man, i hate goal.com, look at this http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2008/12/24/1024412/the-goalcom-50-thierry-henry-43
They said that henry hasn’t stopped complaining about playing on the left. what gives? under guardiola, he has not once complained.Posted from
Germany -
–Pique’s red card was rescinded, everyone. The Liga essentially called BS on that “foul.” So he isn’t suspended for the next match.
–In other news, Lyon says they want Abidal back. “Hey, we didn’t know he was THAT good,” they said. You heard it here first. Ain’t gonna happen.
–In the “duh” category, Messi says that Guardiola has made a difference this season.
–I Hate Madrid, I wouldn’t worry about Goal.com. That site’s white-clad bias is on the record, and they are more of an aggregator than a real news source. So if something comes out somewhere, they report it. For example, there is the rumor that Scolari is going to be axed in favor of Mancini, who is still under contract to Inter, even though The Special One is presently there.
Goal.com cites “strong speculation” as the source for its report, along with “Hey, we’ve even seen Mancini in London and stuff.” They go on to further say that he has lost control of the dressing room, and some of the players think that he doesn’t have what it takes to succeed.
True? Dunno. But not giving a manager a full season, unless he is a pustulent, festering disaster (hello, Juande Ramos at Spurs) is pretty unheard of at a club such as Chelsea, which is in every competition, right?
Now it might happen. Abramovich is kinda crazy. But I doubt it.
Yet that’s the kind of thing that Goal.com trucks in. There are times when they are right. The reporter might have a good source somewhere. But more often than not, it’s just crazy talk.
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United States -
BTW AS reporting that a news station is reporting that unnamed sources are reporting *whew* that Messi refused to practice after the Valencia game because he was angry at being taken off.
*GASP!!!* The HORROR! OMG MESSI=PRIMA DONNA!Hurray for unnamed sources! No one else has said anything else about this. You gotta love the Madrid press trying its best to put the kid down. As if the “spitting at the ground but it looks like it might be in the general direction of a player due to the camera angle” photos weren’t enough.
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United States -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7789808.stm
Though its Dec 18 news, but I think its kind of important news for Barcelona, the issue of “3 years before getting 21″ is considered as a home player now is a concern, it make me feel as if it is a turning around the point to avoid serious solution, so I am not sure if this will really be a solution, I have mixed feelings of disappointment and doubts.
I think it will limit buying accomplished starts (now that u can select less than before for a game)but instead will encourage rubbing youth under 18 to cover that new challenge, so it will actually make things worse.
either I didn’t understand the new rule, or it is catastrophic for youth academies rights.
Posted from
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Essentially what the rule says is “give the young’uns some.” So three roster spots must be reserved for domestic players who have been registered nationals for three years, meaning that some 18-year-old kid can’t be signed then placed on the fast-track to becoming a national of that country.
I think that if anything it will make it easier to keep young players, as they will have a route into the real squad. It won’t really affect poaching from talented canteras such as ours.
It’s also important to note that at present, it’s only the UK’s Football League that has adopted it. No first-tier league has done so and frankly, I can’t see it happening. As a general rule, top-tier leagues try to stay clear of that sort of thing.
And as I read it, it’s sort of a home-grown talent rule that will allow for youth players to work their way into the main side. Given the quality of our cantera, I think it won’t change anything that we do, since we already meet that requirement technically, were it to become a Liga reality, with Xavi, Puyol, Valdes, Pique, Busquets, Pedro and Messi in the squad, to say nothing of the Victor Vasquez or Sanchez who finds his way onto the roster.
It’s different, and much less restrictive than the much-discussed UEFA “nationalist” rule, in which at least 6 players on a side have to be native.
Top-flight football sides will NEVER pass such a rule. Why have three roster spots for players that would never see the light of day? Football League clubs can afford that. But the big boys, who are usually competing in the league, Champions League and domestic cup competitions, can’t afford to throw roster spots away.
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United States -
True Kevin, what I meant is that our problem in Barcelona is that other clubs rub our players when they are between 15 and 18.
In old system when a team like Chelsea for example can play any number of “non domestic players”, they will be so picky and more reasonable -if we can say this word attached to Chelsea- with their financial spending while rubbing youth because they will prefer buying accomplished starts keeping in mind that youth no matter how talented they are, are unpredictable so the risk is high that they may flop. The result is some youth rubbing and more a system based on buying accomplished stars.Now in the new system that closed this door, they know they need more youth (under 18) signings in order to insure dominance because accomplished starts couldn’t be a complete solution anymore, and with all respect to English talents(referring to england system of raising players) nothing match our youth academy where players younger than 16 years old already show their potentials, so the result will be a huge battle will take place between the big clubs to hunt and loan.
We also need to be aware that this may cause even more damage to teams in South America.
Marry Xmass for all.
Posted from
Germany -
Oh, you mean as in signing them when they’re VERY young. Heck, they already do that. I still think that an “innovation” such as that doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of being adopted by a grownup club.
I also think that irrespective of where a kid comes from, it’s still a kid, with all the uncertainty that such things entail. Look at Krkic, as close to a sure thing as anyone could conceive of. Yet he’s been flush with averageness this season, right? So who knows.
And the best defense is to be the best club in the world. I also think that Guardiola and his rotation policy have done more to support the cantera than anything the club could have possibly done. Busquets, I’m sure, is a poster child for all the B-teamers.
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United States -
I was out, hm…You didnt get my point Kevin, or my lack of english dont explain much:)
but anyways lets hope it will not make things worse.Marry Xmass, I am not sure about the time difference if ur xmass night was before or will be after ours.
Posted from
Germany -
“but anyways lets hope it will not make things worse.” I mean the new rules.
Posted from
Germany -
Merry Christmas to all folks there.. I’m leaving for home soon for a vacation and will follow Barca from here rather than the AS or Sport trash!
Posted from
United States
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